If you are looking to travel from Newport to Jonesboro, be prepared for a journey that covers 245.4 miles. While the direct distance between these Arkansas towns is much shorter, this specific route takes a winding path that lasts approximately 4 hours and 1 minute. You should plan on setting aside one full day for this trip, as the navigation is quite involved. Expect to spend about $38 on fuel for the excursion. Because this route stays entirely within the Southeast region of Arkansas, you won't experience major climate shifts, but the local nature of the roads makes it a significant commitment for a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121.3 miles from Newport, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 46m
US 167
50.9 mi
1h
Washington Street
30.5 mi
35m
Sheridan Bypass
17.9 mi
20m
US 78
12.1 mi
13m
Ouachita Road 67
10.5 mi
25m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
9m
Dr Martin Luther King Expressway
2.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newport, AR and Jonesboro, AR.
1
Start on Ouachita Road 509
1.0 mi·4 min·Ouachita Road 509
2
Turn right onto Ouachita Road 68
1.3 mi·5 min·Ouachita Road 68
3
Turn straight onto Ouachita Road 67
11 mi·25 min·Ouachita Road 67
4
Continue on Fairview Road Southeast
0.6 mi·1 min·Fairview Road Southeast
5
Turn right onto AR 7
2.1 mi·2 min·Dr Martin Luther King Expressway
6
Continue on AR 7
0.2 mi·11 sec·South Adams Avenue
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
8
Continue on US 79; US 278
1.3 mi·1 min·Branyan-Hunnicutt Bypass
9
Continue on US 79; US 278
30 mi·35 min·Washington Street
10
Turn left onto US 167
36 mi·44 min·US 167
11
Continue on US 167
18 mi·20 min·Sheridan Bypass
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
15 mi·16 min·US 167
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167
1.6 mi·2 min·US 67; US 167
Exit 143BToward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167
28 mi·29 min·I 57; US 167
Toward Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
15
Continue on I 57; US 64; US 167
74 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 57; US 64; US 167
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward AR 226: Jonesboro
17
Keep slight right at fork
346 ft·8 sec
18
Merge onto US 78; AR 226
12 mi·13 min·US 78; AR 226
19
Continue on US 49; US 63; US 78
7.4 mi·9 min·Southwest Drive
20
Continue on South Main Street
1.4 mi·2 min·South Main Street
21
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
207 ft·14 sec·Cate Avenue
22
Turn left
75 ft·5 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 4-hour drive, starting your journey early in the day is the best way to ensure you arrive in Jonesboro before fatigue sets in. You have one scheduled stop built into the itinerary, so use that time to stretch and reorient yourself on the local roads. Since you aren't dealing with interstate speeds, your fuel consumption may vary, so keep that $38 budget in mind when planning your refueling stops. My top tip for this specific route is to double-check your GPS frequently; because you are traveling exclusively on local roads like Fairview Road Southeast rather than major highways, navigation can be tricky if you miss a turn.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 121.3 miles from Newport, AR, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 53 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.3 miles or 2h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jonesboro, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Newport, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Newport, AR
This is one driving day of about 242.5 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Newport, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 102.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 118.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1 mi into trip|~4m in|Ouachita Road 68
Turn right onto Ouachita Road 68
Navigation decision point
5
15.8 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
102 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North:...
7
116.7 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|US 67; US 167
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167 toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143B
Toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Ja...
7
118.3 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|I 57; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167 toward Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.62 one way
$73.25 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$40.20
$80.41
premium
$4.56
$43.53
$87.05
diesel
$5.61
$53.54
$107.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.8
0
$25.46
$11.64
Efficient EV
60.6
0
$21.22
$9.70
EV Truck/SUV
97
1
$33.95
$15.52
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Newport, AR
Morning
in Newport on Sunday
Local time
10:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jonesboro, AR
Morning
in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
10:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 52m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget about smooth, high-speed interstate cruising on this trip, as the route consists entirely of local roads like Ouachita Road 68, Ouachita Road 67, and Fairview Road Southeast. With a highway share of 0%, you are in for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. The road's personality is technical and rhythmic rather than fast-paced, requiring you to navigate frequent turns throughout the 245.4-mile trek. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, you will find yourself constantly adjusting to the local layout of the roads as you make your way toward Jonesboro.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 167. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Ouachita Road 68.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 242.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Ouachita Road 68): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 102 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
325 ft99 ft
Total Climb
338 ft
Total Descent
112 ft
Highest Point
325 ft
~242.5 mi in
Elevation Range
226 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Newport, AR and Jonesboro, AR, road signs point toward Memphis and Saint Louis.
Memphis
116.7 mi in|~2h 37m|via US 67; US 167
Saint Louis
118.3 mi in|~2h 39m|via I 57; US 167
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 242.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.7 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Ouachita Road 68): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 102 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Jonesboro, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
